PARISH COUNCIL:

Village Green: Estimates have been received for the work of laying new paths. As per parish council policy, the clerk is to forward a specification to a local builder. The contract to be sanctioned this month.

Bridge Street: Road now satisfactory and the irons of the drains had now been raised.

Salters Lane: Following on from the discussion with the WDC Highways department, an assessment is to be undertaken and a programme of work agreed.

Planning: Application has been approved - Mr Seppings of Bridge Street. Demolition of existing rear lean-to to provide dining room, ground floor bathroom and to enlarge hall and kitchen. A second application was also approved to change existing metal frame windows to hardwood casement windows.

Rural Rate Relief: Recommendations to WDC have been made that full support was given for the Rate Relief for the Post Office and General Stores and by a majority vote, Rate Relief was also given to The Old Chestnut Tree Inn.

Fete: The council agreed to donate the sum of £30 for various prizes associated with a photographic competition at the forthcoming fete.

Grants: An application by Mrs Lampard to support a grant for a 'Discovery' activity for the local community, was approved by the parish council in recognition of the interest already expressed in this initiative.

Foot and Mouth: Cllr Gordon raised the matter of the plight of residents in and around Throckmorten who had suffered due to the foot and mouth crisis. WC Cllr Liz Tucker made comment and said she was talking to the various bodies with a number of suggestions for consideration in recognition of the difficult times and the problems endured by the residents.

Planning Strategy: WD Cllr M Argyle brought to the attention of the parish council a planning strategy to trigger action for future planning for Lower Moor. This would be co-ordinated with the village statement. Cllr McDonald to update his records.

Village Green: Cllr Gordon made a request to replace one of the two swings with a baby-chair swing. The Clerk to obtain an estimate. It was proposed by Cllr Everall that a five barred gate should be erected at the entrance to the village green. The clerk to obtain estimates to include also the cost of a proposed barrier gate. A proposal was made that the gap to the east of the fencing should be closed off for the safety of children running down the slope onto the road. The work to be pursued by the clerk. A request for an additional rubbish bin was made and the clerk to pursue the moving of the dog bin. Following a complaint, an estimate has been requested to trim the hedge on the north side of the playing field that has overgrown over the footpath on the A4538. The clerk to contact Smart Cut Ltd.

Ownership: It was proposed that a notice be placed on the fence of children's playground stating the play area is for the use of children 11 years and under. Also a notice at the entrance of the village green to state that the green was the ownership of the parish council for use of the public and any nuisance or mis-use to be reported.

Security: Cllr McDonald spoke of a meeting with PC Storr on speeding in Salters Lane and the nuisance being created by motorcycles on the village green and adjoining roads. Cllr McDonald had also met with Police Superintendent Sharon Gibbons who suggested setting up a problem plan in conjunction with PC Storr.

Skips: In light of the recent fire in the skip, it was first suggested that skips should no longer be provided due to the short distance from Lower Moor to the Landfill site. Mr R Miller spoke of his anger and the amount of time taken over the Easter weekend in clearing up the debris along with Cllr J Marshall and Mr R Millen. After some debate, it was finally decided to change the skip dates from Bank Holiday dates to a normal weekend date and review the situation later in the year.

Odours: Complaints have been received by residents of smells from the landfill site and from the agricultural washing/packing unit. The clerk to write to Severn Waste Services and Simms & Wood. The next meeting, including the AGM, will be held on June 5.